street racing in florida

[Willduhhbeast]

Racing (speed contest) in Florida does not require you to exceed the posted speed limit.

The Florida Legislature is quite serious in their attempts to curb street racing and reckless driving in the State.

Thats the thing, I wasn't involved in a speed contest. I was involved in a situation where I spun my tires. He took me out of the car immediately and put the cuffs on me. I didn't even have an opportunity to "take it to court" which was bullshit.

It was his judgement call, and a poor one at that.

 

[FordSVTFan]

Thats the thing, I wasn't involved in a speed contest. I was involved in a situation where I spun my tires. He took me out of the car immediately and put the cuffs on me. I didn't even have an opportunity to "take it to court" which was bullshit.

It was his judgement call, and a poor one at that.

Why didnt you have an opportunity to take it to court?

 

[tistan]

So did Nick Hogan get to got to a federal take it in the butt penitentiary today?

 

[exdeath]

It is very sneaky, but one cannot blame a LEO for enforcing the law. That is what they do for a living.

Can't blame the Nazis and concentration camp workers for following the law either... or suicide bombers for following Islamic law... etc

Not trying to equate genocide with peeling out, but just pointing out how absurd "just enforcing the law" can be sometimes when done blindly and without regard to the legality or sensibility of that law, especially when it's a vague catch all blanket law that can be used to nail someone for any situation you can imagine (see anti-terror laws being twisted and abused to tackle non terror related crimes in order to secure tap warrants, etc).

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I've heard of cases where people have raced or revved and done donuts and things on private property, where police try to get them on "racing", then with the realization that it's a private street or parking lot, with permission and knowledge of the owner, it suddenly changes to previously unmentioned things like "noise complaints" or "wasting resources" and any straw grasping they can pull our of their arse by twisting every law available. Bottom line is they personally do not like what someone else is doing, and they throw their weight around with whatever tools they have available to try to put a stop to something, when really the only person it's bothering is him. I don't care how many people he's carried to the ER with their skull in their hands, it's private property and it's at the participants own risk. I did not request someone else to look out for my safety.

It's not always the case, you could always get a cool guy that pulls in to watch and check out the cars or something, ask you to wind it down before dark, etc. But it only takes one politically motivated dick with an agenda to spoil the image for the whole.

FYI I've never personally experienced any harassment with police, or ever so much as been pulled over. I'm merely playing devils advocate from the perspective of someone who is vigilant against power abuse and government intervention in private affairs. (Actually I have once but he and I both knew it was bogus and I called his bluff and sent him on his way).

Calling a simple act like tire spinning at 0 mph when are alone "street racing", knowing full and well that "street racing" is the most serious traffic offense (since when is blipping the throttle off a green frowned on 1000 times worse than drunk driving or running lights and speeding?)... thats a personal agenda. Any reasonable cop without an agenda would simply fine you for vandalism of public property and request community service to scrub up the rubber you laid down with a tooth brush. But no, they are probably one of the aforementioned Prius driving socialists that doesn't think anyone needs more than 50 HP and they want to nail you for all they can for flexing your peen.

So if your exhaust is louder than a mini van, you must have been revving it, oh it's street racing, lets crush some cars. Pass a law to stop a serious problem, and when that problem goes away or isn't currently occurring, what happens? Broaden the definition of "racing" so you can catch more in the net that ordinarily are not part of the problem the law was originally meant for...

Growing government is a pattern that is all to prevalent in this country in every aspect of our lives... and it needs to stop.

 

[Common]

So did Nick Hogan get to got to a federal take it in the butt penitentiary today?

8 months in the can and despite what most assumed, he will GET a single cell, since he will be housed in the health facility of the jail, reasoning being: he is the only juvenile there.

 

[Jroc]

:lol1: Your friend narked you out. Thats just wrong.

I got busted for street racing a while back, and I'll tell you right now it ain't worth it. Don't get me wrong street racing is fun and very hard not to do when someone challenges you. I've had several people challenge me that I really wanted to run, but I had to suck it up and not do it. It seems like everyone wants to challenge you in the worse spot, especially the ricers, they don't give a damn where their at. I've followed people and told them that I would race them at the track that weekend or another weekend, but that I wouldn't street race them, but nobody wants to do that. I've never even ran my car at a track, so its not like I'm an expert at it or anything.

 

[Bullitt995]

Wasn't there a big deal about the state of florida throwing out their very vague definition of "racing"? I remember hearing something about that because someone finally took them to court over it.

 

[dogmush]

Wasn't there a big deal about the state of florida throwing out their very vague definition of "racing"? I remember hearing something about that because someone finally took them to court over it.

Yes there was, but FL rewrote the law to bring it into compliance with our constitution. (which surprised me a little, useally we just ammend the constitution for stupid stuff like this)

Exdeath-

Are you freaking kidding me!!?? First, you did compare street racing with genocide, or why else mention genocide in your post? Secondly, as a Cobra driver in FL, who likes to drive fast, we had a problem with street racing not that long ago. Believe whatever pipesmoke you want about "Oh, I do it safely, only at night, blah, blah" People were getting killed pretty frequently. There was nothing sneaky at all about what the legislature did. They said pretty publicly that folks weren't being detered by the existing penalties, so they were going to make them stiffer. And they did. Every-one knows the laws, and the penalties, so suck it up.

And I actually don't know any LEO's with Prius's (Prii, Priuses?) and most don't have any agenda at all except doing their job. Quit projecting your parinoia onto the Law Enforcment community and your life will be happier.

And lastly, no one seems to have pointed out that most of these folks are right, the cop can't MAKE him come back to the scene. And he didn't, He gave the OP the choice to come back and deal with it then, or deal with it later, and the OP CHOSE to go back.

to the OP, if you haven't already, get a good lawyer.

 

[04SVT_COBRA]

So how does an officer determine you are racing?

What if I was cruising side-by-side with my friend (lets say we both own Cobra's) and we are going 10-15mph above the speed limit? Does an officer have the right to determine whether or not we are both just speeding or if we are racing?

 

[FordSVTFan]

So how does an officer determine you are racing?

What if I was cruising side-by-side with my friend (lets say we both own Cobra's) and we are going 10-15mph above the speed limit? Does an officer have the right to determine whether or not we are both just speeding or if we are racing?

Each state has specific statutes that define "racing." Then the application in court is defined by stare decisis through common law decisions.

Here is California's statute

(a) A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway. As used in this section, a motor vehicle speed contest includes a motor vehicle race against another vehicle, a clock, or other timing device. For purposes of this section, an event in which the time to cover a prescribed route of more than 20 miles is measured, but where the vehicle does not exceed the speed limits, is not a speed contest.

(b) A person shall not aid or abet in any motor vehicle speed contest on any highway.

(c) A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on a highway, and a person shall not aid or abet in a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on any highway.

(d) A person shall not for the purpose of facilitating or aiding or as an incident to any motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition upon a highway in any manner obstruct or place a barricade or obstruction or assist or participate in placing a barricade or obstruction upon any highway.

(e) (1) A person convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than 24 hours nor more than 90 days or by a fine of not less than three hundred fifty-five dollars ($355) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. That person shall also be required to perform 40 hours of community service. The court may order the privilege to operate a motor vehicle suspended for 90 days to six months, as provided in paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 13352. The person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle may be restricted for 90 days to six months to necessary travel to and from that person’s place of employment and, if driving a motor vehicle is necessary to perform the duties of the person’s employment, restricted to driving in that person’s scope of employment. This subdivision does not interfere with the court’s power to grant probation in a suitable case.

(2) If a person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) and that violation proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver, the person convicted shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(f) (1) If a person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) for an offense that occurred within five years of the date of a prior offense that resulted in a conviction of a violation of subdivision (a), that person shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than four days nor more than six months, and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(2) If the perpetration of the most recent offense within the five-year period described in paragraph (1) proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver, a person convicted of that second violation shall be imprisoned in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(3) If the perpetration of the most recent offense within the five-year period described in paragraph (1) proximately causes serious bodily injury, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a person other than the driver, a person convicted of that second violation shall be imprisoned in the state prison, or in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than one year, and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(4) The court shall order the privilege to operate a motor vehicle of a person convicted under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) suspended for a period of six months, as provided in paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) of Section 13352. In lieu of the suspension, the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle may be restricted for six months to necessary travel to and from that person’s place of employment and, if driving a motor vehicle is necessary to perform the duties of the person’s employment, restricted to driving in that person’s scope of employment.

(5) This subdivision does not interfere with the court’s power to grant probation in a suitable case.

(g) If the court grants probation to a person subject to punishment under subdivision (f), in addition to subdivision (f) and any other terms and conditions imposed by the court, which may include a fine, the court shall impose as a condition of probation that the person be confined in a county jail for not less than 48 hours nor more than six months. The court shall order the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle to be suspended for a period of six months, as provided in paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) of Section 13352 or restricted pursuant to subdivision (f).

(h) If a person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) and the vehicle used in the violation is registered to that person, the vehicle may be impounded at the registered owner’s expense for not less than one day nor more than 30 days.

(i) A person who violates subdivision (b), (c), or (d) shall upon conviction of that violation be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 90 days, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(j) If a person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle is restricted by a court pursuant to this section, the court shall clearly mark the restriction and the dates of the restriction on that person’s driver’s license and promptly notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of the terms of the restriction in a manner prescribed by the department. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall place that restriction in the person’s records in the Department of Motor Vehicles and enter the restriction on a license subsequently issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles to that person during the period of the restriction.

(k) The court may order that a person convicted under this section, who is to be punished by imprisonment in a county jail, be imprisoned on days other than days of regular employment of the person, as determined by the court.

(l) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Louis Friend Memorial Act.

 

[Stealth7]

to the OP, if you haven't already, get a good lawyer.

i dont need one, ive never been caught for racing and after this experience i dont think i will anymore. looking at it now, its just not worth it for me right now, with all the bills i have.

ill wait till i actually get a fast car and can take it to a track. or if i become wealthy and can buy my way out of trouble

 

[slo-poc]

Racing (speed contest) in Florida does not require you to exceed the posted speed limit.

The Florida Legislature is quite serious in their attempts to curb street racing and reckless driving in the State.

With that being said..their not helping to add new tracks either.....

 

[MustangBetty]

With that being said..their not helping to add new tracks either.....

Doing the opposite actually. Tracks built in the middle of no where years ago, that later have homes built next to them, get harassed about noise etc.

Oh well, they have to pay for the Law Enforcement budget somehow.:kaboom:

I had a similar experience to the original poster, except me and my friend were just speeding home from work(work together). Going 55 in a 45 both of us. The cop was so reckless in pulling us over that he he pulled out right in front of an Expedition and almost caused a major accident. Then instead of coming up behind us he went in front of us and cut us off LOL.

 

[Machx2]

As many have said laws vary in different states. I got pulled over here in texas one day when i was just driving and a 5.0 next to me spun his tires and took of. All while i was just driving normal. Almost went to jail. I was being as nice as possible as he claimed to have it all on camera. I couldnt help but laugh and just told him great bring it to court and it will get me off of it. I walked away with a warning. I do believe street racing is wrong but its gotten out of hand. Just remember Innocent untill proven guilty. Get a lawyer and I'm sure It will get reduced or just droped all around. I see it everyday.

 

[WTF]

...I walked away with a warning...

Don't you just love it when even if you're in the right, they still need to give you their "warnings". If you didn't break the law, then wtf would i need a warning about?! At that point the citizen should be giving the warnings. And for every court case that proves the defendant innocent, there should be fees to the PD to recoup the time loss, work missed, attorney fees, and angst the innocent had to endure.

 

[nitemarestang]

With that being said..their not helping to add new tracks either.....

werd bro

 

[roach4047]

I bought my truck in 02. The reason I mention that is because I don't recall the exact year that this occurred but I can say that my truck is just now getting back on the road after being down for well over two years. So sometime between 02 and say 06 I barked my tires on the Ohio State University Campus with a Police Patty Wagon sitting a block behind me. They were apparently at the stop sign. Needless to say I was pulled over immediately. I about fell over when he let me go with a warning.

Roach

 

[BronzeGod]

I don't know how the cops here in Miami do it. If i were a Miami cop, i'd be pulling people over Costco style, wholesale law enforcing lol.

 

[FordSVTFan]

And for every court case that proves the defendant innocent, there should be fees to the PD to recoup the time loss, work missed, attorney fees, and angst the innocent had to endure.

That isnt how our system works. If the prosecution was proven "malicious," then there would be such a claim. The reason being, no one is ever found innocent following a hearing/trial. There is a presumption of innocence. But after adjudiciation the defendent is either guilty or not-guilty.

Not-Guilty is far different from a finding of innocent.

 

[exdeath]

Don't you just love it when even if you're in the right, they still need to give you their "warnings". If you didn't break the law, then wtf would i need a warning about?! At that point the citizen should be giving the warnings. And for every court case that proves the defendant innocent, there should be fees to the PD to recoup the time loss, work missed, attorney fees, and angst the innocent had to endure.

QFMFT

Power tripping much?